Apparatus for coloring portions of yarn in mass



Jan. 28, 1930. J. 5. JOHNSTON 1,745,097

APPARATUS FOR COLORING PORTIONS OF YARN I MASS Filed Nov. 20, 1824 3heets-Sheet 1 Jan. 28, 1930. 5, JOHNSTON 1,745,09?

AfPARATUS FOR COLORING PORTIONS OF YARN IN MASS Filed Nov. 20. 1924 sSheets-Sheet 2 VIKWM M v5 5 I 7 I j g? 26 #7 r/ygs s y 4 flTr 1v: vs

Jan. 28, 1930. J, 5, JQHNSTQN 1,745,097

' APPARATUS FOR COLORING PORTIONS OF YARN IN MASS Filed Nov. 20, 1924 5Sheets-Sheet 3 S ACU V TANK- Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE JAMES S. JOHNSTON, OF UTICA, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, 'I'O ECLIPSE TEXTILE DEVICES INCORPORATED, OF ELMIRACORPORATION OF NEW YORK HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, A

APPARATUS FOR COLORING PORTIONS OF YARN IN MASS another part, the liquidwill be drawn in a direct line from the liquid supply nozzle to thesuction nozzle, and the main object of my present invention is toutilize this principle in coloring portions of the yarn in bulk leavingother portions uncolored so that when the yarn is unwound for knittingpurposes it will produce the desired mottled or clouded efi'ects in thefabric with a more perfeet blend with the uncolored portions of thefabric than would be possible by the use of yarn which has been coloredin spots, by reason of the fact that the latter produces colored streaksrather than color-blend. In other words,-Ihave sought to provide anapparatus in which portions of the bulk yarn on the bobbin may be easilyand quickly colored by simply applying'the coloring liquid in limitedquantities to a portion of the surface of the wound yarn andsimultaneously applying suction to another portion or in- I ner surfaceof the same bobbin whereby the coloring is drawn in a direct linebetween the suction nozzle and the coloring nozzle.

Another object is to rotate one of the-elements, such as the bobbin,relatively to the nozzles so that the coloring liquid will be caused totravel through different portions of the yarn during such rotation.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the .invention willbe brought out in the following descriptions In the drawings Figure 1 isa top plan of an apparatus embodying the various features of thisinvention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation of the upper portion of the sameapparatus.

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sect10nal view taken on line-3 Figure 1. 7

Application filed November 20, 1924., serial No. 751,070.

The apparatus shown is designed for colorlng portions of a bulk or massof yarn -A-- wound upon a hollowconical bobbin -aof heavy paper orcardboard which, together with the body of yarn woundzthereon,constitutes the standard form and size of cone to be used on knittingmachines, for making knitted fabrics, but it will be evident from thefollowing description that the same machine may be used for coloring"portions of any body of regularly wound yarn. The mass of yarn asusually wound upon the bobbins-is highly porous or pervious to air andliquid and the present invention makesuse of this condition by applyinga coloring liquid to one portion of the mass of yarn and simultaneouslyapplying suction to another portion of the same mass in "such manner asto draw the coloring liquid in a direct line between the point ofapplication and the point of suction, whereby the interposed portions ofthe mass of yarn will be instantly and uniformly colored in transit fromone point to the other so that .when the yarn is knitted into fabricthecolored portions thereof will be distributed more or less promiscuouslybut with a blending effect to produce the desired mottled or clouded.ap-

pearance, as distinguished from the colored streaks incidental to-theuse of yarn which has been spotted at intervals by coloring matterthroughout its length.

' In practice, it is'found to be more expeditious and eflicient to applythe coloring liquid to the periphery of the mass of yarn on the bobbinand to apply the suction to the interior of the bobbin throughperforations there in and then to rotate the bobbin, with the mass ofyarn thereon, so as to'draw the color ing matter through differentportions of the mass of yarn by such rotation to produce uni formcoloring of the portions of the yarn interposed between the points ofapplication of the coloring matter and suction.

The bobbins upon which the yarn is wound are usually brought to themachine in an imperforate condition and, in order to increase theefficiency of the machine and to further expedite the coloringoperations, suitable means is provided on-the machine for perforatingthe bobbins to permit the more direct transit of the coloring matterfrom the point of application to the point of suction.

In carrying out these various objectives a pair of hollow mandrels -1are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 2- on a main supporting frame3 to revolve about horizontal axes in parallel spaced relation with theapexes of the mandrels 1 facing in the same direction, or toward thefront of the machine.

These mandrels are of substantially the same form and size to confrom asclosely as possible to the conical taper and size of the interior of thebobbin a-- and thereby to permit the bobbin, with the mass of yarn woundthereon, to be easily and quickly placed upon either mandrel and to beheld by friction thereon, to rotate therewith during the application ofcoloring matter to the periphery of the porous mass of yarn and at thesame time to enable the bobbin with the colored yarn thereon to beeasily and quickly removed by endwise withdrawal from the smaller end ofthe mandrel.

The obj ect in employing two of these mandrels is to enable the operatorto place an uncolored bobbin of yarn upon either mandrel while anotherbobbin of yarn on the other mandrel is receiving coloring matter,thereby permitting the machine to turn out more work than would bepossible with the use of a single mandrel.

Each mandrel preferably consists of the tapered head 1, and a tubularshaft sec tion 2'- screwed together end to end in coaxial relation, thetapered head --1- being adapted to receive the bobbin and has its outeror smaller end closed, while its intermediate portion ishollow and isprovided with radial apertures 4 to permit the passage of airtherethrough and to the interior thereof which communicates with thelengthwise opening in the section 2-.

The tubular shaft -2-- extends through and some distance beyond thebearing 2 and is adapted to revolve in a suitable gland 5- having screwconnection with the adjacent end of a valve case 6, the rear end of thetubular shaft 2 and adjacent portion of the valve case 6- being providedwith hollow end-thrust bearing members 7- spring-pressed togetheraxially by a light coil spring 8 to form a substantially air-tight jointbetween the rotary shaft 2- and the non-rotating valve case 6 The valvecase 6 is provided with an inlet 9 and an outlet 10, connected bya port-11 which is controlled by a v lve -12-, the latter being normallyclosed by a spring --13'. l

The inlet 9- communicates directly with the interior of the hollow shaft-2 and mandrel head 1 to allow the air entering the apertures 4 to passinto the valve chamber.

The outlet ends of the valve casing 6- are screwed into the adjacentends of branch pipes 14, Figures 2 and 3, and communicate therewiththrough branch passages li, said branch pipes 14 merging into a singlepipe -l5 which is connected to a vacuum tank -16, Figures 2 and 3. Apartial vacuum is maintained in the tank 16 by means of a pair of doubleacting vacuum pumps -17-, of any well known type, mounted in spacedrelation upon a supporting frame 18 and each connected by pipes -19 and20 to the vacuum tank -16 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 so that eitherpump may be operated independently of or simultaneoi'isly with theother.

A vacuum gauge -2l is connected by a pipe 22 to the pipe 15- to indicatethe degree of vacuum maintained in the tank 16-.

Both of the vacuum pumps 17 are adapted to be operated by an electricmotor 23 through the medium of any suitable gearing and clutchescontained in housings 24 Figure 1, for permitting either pump to beoperated independently or both simultaneously.

The mandrel shafts2 are adapted to be driven by a separate electricmotor 25 through the medium of worms --2G on the opposite ends of themotor shaft 25 and Worm gears 27 on the mandrel shaft sections 2, Figure3.

Feed for coloring liquid A tank or reservoir 28 is supported in asubstantially horizontal position upon suitable standards -29 of a mainsupporting frame -3 some distance above the horizontal plane of themandrels 1 and is provided with a lid 31- normally closing an opening inthe upper side for filling purposes, theobject being to permit thecoloring matter to flow by gravity to the yarn on the bottom in a mannerpresently described.

Similar devices are employed for feeding and controlling the flow of thecoloring liquid from the tank to each bobbin, each of said devicescomprising a down-flow pipe 32- leading from the bottom of the tank 28and discharging directly into a valve case 38, the horizontal portion ofa pipe 32 being supported by a bracket -34:- on the upper portion of thegear case as 35 contzaining the adjacent gears 126 and 2 The valve case33- is supported directly over the axis of the corresponding mandrel 1and contains a valve 36 journaled therein for lateral rocking oroscillatory movement.

The front end of each valve 36 is pro- I to the surface of the mass of 1i \J vided with a radial nipple 37 carrying a distributing head 38 whichis provided with a series of discharge nozzles -39- communicating with acommon chamber 4-0 iq the distributing'head 38-.

Each valve case 33- carries a superposed supplemental reservoir 41having its upper end connected by a pipe -12 to the top of the reservoir-28, the lower end of each reservoir 41 being connected bya nipple 43--to a valve chamber 4-l in the case 33 directly over the adjacent portionof the valve 6-. v

The portion of the valve -36 registering with the chamber l4 is providedwith two ports l5 and 46 one of which as l5- is indirect communicationwith the adj acentend of theliquid passage in the discharge pipe -32 andextends radially through the outer wall of the valve so that when thevalve is turned to one position, as shown in Figure 3, the port will beclosed, by the adjacent wall of the valve case thereby cutting olf thesupply of coloring liquid from the main reservoir -28- to thesupplemental reservoir l1, but when the valve is turned a quarter turnto register the port l5 with the chamber 44 communication will beestablished between the main reservoir 28 and the supplemental reservoir41 for supplying the coloring fluid to said supplemental reservoir.

W'hen the valve -36 is adjusted to the position shown in Figure 3 withthe supply of coloring fluid to the supplemental reservoir cut oil, theport 46. will be registered with the chamber 44-- which communicatesthrough a branch passage in the nipple with the chamber t0, thuspermitting the flow of the coloring fluid from. the supplementalreservoir to the distributing head -38 and thence through the nozzles 39yarn wound upon the bobbin a.

The front end of each head 88 constitutes a handle by which said headand valve 36 may be rocked laterally through an arc of approximately 90degrees to control the flow of the coloring liquid from the mainreservoir 28- to the supplemental reservoir -4t1- and also to controlthe flow of said liquidfrom the supplemental reservoir to the mass ofyarn on the bobbin and at the same time shifting the nozzles 39 from adischarging position in close proximity to the periphery of the bobbin,of yarn to a cutoff position away from the yarn.

Any suitable means may be employed for perforating the conical bobbinaeither before or after the yarn is wound thereon and in such mannerthat its perforations will register with the radial passages 4 in themandrel head -1 when the bobbin with the yarn wound thereon is placedupon said mandrel head to enable the coloring liquid applied to theperiphery of the mass of yarn to be drawn by suction in a direct linetoward the passages -4 by reason of the porosity or air and liquidpervious condition of said yarn. 4

lVhen the perforated bobbin or/- with the mass of yarn wound thereon isplaced by hand upon the tapered mandrel head 1- it. is temporarily heldin. this position by means of a follower 4:7' having one end providedwith a rearwardly extending rod 48 guided in suitable bearings -d9- inthe frame 3 and spring pressed rearwardly by a coil spring -50--, Figure3.

The other end of said follower is provided with a socketed cap 51adapted to engage the small end of the conical bobbin a to effectivelyclose the same in case it should-be open and also to frictionally holdsaid bobbin upon the mandrel head -1' to rotate therewith. i

In addition to the axial movement of the followers -47 it is alsojournaled in the bearings 49 to permit it to be rocked g laterally intoand out of registration with the filled bobbinvon the mandrel, thuspermitting the bobbin with the yarn Wound thereon to be placed inoperative position or removed when the follower is shifted to one sidethereof, the rear end of the follower shaft 48, being provided withlateral offset pins 52 adapted to engage a stop -53 for limiting saidlateral rocking movement.

The front end of the valve 36 is also provided with a stop pin or bolt'-54 movable in a concentric slot 55 to engage the end walls of saidslot for limiting the lateral rocking movement of the distributing head-38 and also the rocking movement of the valve about its axis.

A drainage faucet -5(i is connected to the pipe -'-32- for removing thecoloring liquid from the reservoirs 28 and -41- when desired as, forexample, in changing the liquid from one color to another or to permitthe cleansing of the liquid distributing system.

The head 38 and its nozzles 39 may for convenience of description begenerally termed a,liquid discharge nozzle for applying the coloringfluid to a portion of the mass of yarn on the bobbin, while the taperedhead .1-- of the mandrel -1-v assure a uniform distribution andsaturation of the coloring matter to all of the portions of the yarnmoving between the discharge nozzle and suction nozzle.

As previously explained, the suction in each nozzle -1 is produced bythe pumps -l7 and controlled by the valve 12 which closes with thesuction aided by the spring 13 and is provided with a pendent sectionalstem -56 having its lower end provided with a yoke 57 surrounding anoperating shaft -5S which extends forwardly to the front end of themachine and is provided at its front end with an operating handle 59.

Secured to each of the operating shafts -*8 is an eccentric collaroperating in a circular socket -6()- in the adjacent end face of theyoke 57 so that by turning the operating shaft 58 in one direction fromits normal position will effect a corresponding turning movement of theeccentric collar 60 in the yoke 57- for opening the valve -12- againstthe action of its retracting spring -l3- thereby placing the suctionnozzle in direct communication with the vacuum tank 16 for drawing thecol oring matter from the corresponding nozzle --38 through the mass ofyarn on the mandrel.

It will be evident from the foregoing de scription that the supply ofthe coloring fluid to the mass of yarn on a bobbin is under the controlof the operator by simply rocking the head -8 into and out of proximityto the surface of the yarn and that the suction is also under thecontrol of the operator by the shifting movement of the operating handle59 from one position to another and that the control of the coloringliquid and suction for each bobbin is independent of the control of thecoloring matter and suction of the other bobbin.

For example, when the machine is in operation the members 47- areshifted by hand to one side of the axis of their respective mandrelssufficiently to permit a bobbin with the yarn wound thereon to be placedupon either of the mandrels -1'- after which the member 47- is returnedto bring its part 51 into contact with the outer small end of the bobbinto hold the latter upon the mandrel.

The adjacent head 38 is then rocked by hand into position to allow thecoloring fluid to flow from the supplemental reservoir -4lto the yarnand at about the same time the operating member 59 is shifted to openthe valve 12 for producing suction in the corresponding nozzle 1 duringwhich operations the mandrel carrying the bobbin with the yarn thereonis rotated to allow the coloring matter to be distributed to allportions of the yarn traveling between the two nozzles.

While the coloring matter is being applied to the yarn on the bobbin,another bobbin with the mass of yarn thereon is placed upon the othermandrel and held in place by its corresponding member 47 similaroperations being repeated for permitting the flow of the coloring matterto that bobbin and causlng the same to be drawn through the yarn bysuction and as soon as each bobbin is placed in operative position forreceiving the coloring matter, the one on the other mandrel is removedand replaced by an uncolored bobbin, these operations being repeated inrapid succession as long as required.

The paper cores or bobbins upon which the yarn is wound must, of course,be perforated before being placed upon the mandrels and in such mannerthat the perforations will register with the passages 4 in the suctionnozzles in order to effect a more rapid transit of the coloring matterthrough the yarn by suction and inasmuch as these bobbin-cores areusually imperforate when delivered to the user, it becomes necessary toper- .forate them with the yarn Wound thereon.

It has been found convenient to perforate the core on the same frame asthat carrying the coloring apparatus. A device 63, for this purpose isshown in the drawingbetween the nozzles 39, but this perforating deviceis the invention of Charles E. Skelton, patented June 8, 1926, No.1,588,200 and is, therefore, not claimed herein.

The perforated bobbfn-with a mass of yarn thereon is then placed uponone of the mandrels 1' and the follower f7 is then adjusted tofrictionally hold the bobbin on the mandrel to rotate therewith, afterwhich the head 38- and valve 36 are adjusted to bring the nozzles -39into close proximity to the periphery of the wound yarn and allow thecoloring fluid to flow through the nozzles onto the yarn bobbin whilethe latter is rotating.

At about the same time that the head 38 is adjusted in the manner justdescribed, the valve 12, is opened by the proper adjustment of itsoperatingmember 59 to connect the suction nozzle 1 with the vacuumchamber '16 whereby the suction produced in the nozzle 1 draws thecoloring fluid through the mass of yarn, while the latter rotating.

During the application of the coloring fluid to the yarn on the suctionnozzle just described, another imperforate bobbin with the yarn woundthereon is subjected to the same perforating operation as previouslydescribed, is then withdrawn and placed uponthe other suction nozzle 1,at which time the corresponding valve -36 is opened and the last namedsuction nozzle is connected to the vacuum chamber -16 by the properadjustment. of its valge -12 to cause the coloring fluid to be drawninto the yarn on the second named bobbin in a manner similar to thatpreviously described.

While the yarn. on the second named bobbin is being colored thecontrolling valve for the coloring matter and suction valve for thefirst named bobbin are closed and the colored bobbFn is then removed,and replaced by another perforated yarn bobbin, these operations beingrepeated alternately from one bobbin to the other as eachcore has beenperforated.

What I claim is 1:. In a yarn-coloring device, a suction nozzle engagingone surface'of a mass of yarn and a color supply nozzle directed towarda limited area of the opposite surfaceof the mass. 4

2. In a yarn-coloring device, a suction nozzle, a color supply nozzleand means for moving a mass of yarn between said nozzles. c

3. In an apparatus for partially coloring yarn in mass, a color-applyingelement discharging against a portion of the mass, a suction elementapplied to another portion of the mass, and means for moving one of saidelements relatively to the other element to form a continuous band ofcoloring matter in said mass.

i. In an apparatus for partially coloring yarn in mass, a perforatedtube around which the mass of yarn is wound, a liquid-color supplynozzle discharging against the outer layer of yarn, and a suction deviceconnected to said tube for drawing the coloring liquid through theyarntoward said perforation,and-means for rotatingthe tube with the mass ofyarn, thereon to cause the coloring matter to travel through differentportions of the mass of arn. y 5. Apparatus for spot-dyeing yarn in themass, comprising an air-pervious supporting member engaging the lnnersurface of the yarn mass,n1eans for applying suction to said supportingmember, and a color-supply nozzle discharging against a limited area ofthe outer surface of the mass.

6. In an apparatus forpartially coloring yarn in mass, a rotary hollowmandrel having perforated side-walls, means for supporting a mass ofyarn on said mandrel to rotate therewith, means for applying a coloringliquid to a restricted area of the outer surface of the mass, and asuction device connected to said mandrel to draw the coloring mattertoward the perforations.

' 7. In a yarn-coloring device, a color supply I to said nozzle,

9. In a yarn-coloring device, a hollow conical suction-nozzle havingradial apertures, a

hollow perforated conical core slidable endwise'upon and from thesuction nozzle and upon which a mass of yarn is wound, a follower springpressed against the small end of the core to hold it on the suctionnozzle, means for applying coloring matter to a portion of the peripheryof the yarn on the core while on the suction nozzle, and means forproducing suction in said suction nozzle.

10. In an apparatus for partially coloring yarn in mass, a perforatedtube around which the mass of yarn is wound, a liquid color supplynozzle discharging against the outer layer of yarn, an apertured mandrelsupporting said tube, and a suction device connected to said tube fordrawing the coloring liquid through the yarn toward said tube, means forrotating the mandrel with the tube and mass of yarnthereon, and afollower bearing on said tube during rotation.

11. In an apparatus for coloring yarn on.

the bobbin means for applying the coloring matter to the yarn includinga nozzle movable to and from the yarn,-and a valve opened by themovement of the nozzle to the yarn and closed by the movement of thenozzle from the yarn. 1

12- In an apparatus for I coloring yarn, means for applying coloringmatter to the yarn including an oscillatory nozzle mounted so as to bemovable toward and away from the yarn, a valve journalled to oscillateand fixed said valve being opened by the movement of the nozzle towardthe yarn and closed by the movement of the nozzle away from the yarn.

13. In an apparatus for coloring yarn, meansfor applying the coloringmatter to the yarn including a nozzle movable to and from the yarn,and'a valve structure having a movable member carrying said nozzle andthrown to open the valve by the movement of the nozzle toward the yarnand to close the valve by the movement of the nozzle away from themovable towardand away from the yarn, and

valve means operated by the movement of the nozzle toward the yarn toconnect the auxiliary reservoir with the nozzle and to cut off saidfirst reservoir from the auxiliary reservoir and operated by themovement of the nozzle away from the yarn to cut off the nozzle from theauxiliary reservoir and to connect the auxiliary reservoir with saidfirst reservoir,

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of November1924. JAMES S. JOHNSTON.

